Gary Neville admits he was wrong about Hugo Ekitike after Liverpool prediction

Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in the same window and Gary Neville has admitted he got things wrong last summer when he spoke about the transfers

Gary Neville on the Stick To Football podcast. (Image: Stick To Football // YouTube)

Gary Neville has admitted he read the Hugo Ekitike transfer move to Liverpool wrong in the summer, when the Frenchman came to the Premier League from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Liverpool brought the 23-year-old in for a fee that could reach $106 million (£79 million) and he has netted 15 goals in all competitions so far. While Neville was expecting him to come good eventually, the former Manchester United full-back didn't think he would hit the ground running as well as he has.

"Ekitike, so far, he's scored 10 Premier League goals, two assists, and I think we're all saying he's a hit," Neville said on the Stick To Football podcast, sponsored by Sky Bet.

"At the start of the season, I said that basically he would be a hit, but not straight away — and I was wrong. He's been a hit straight away."

The panel of pundits was in agreement that Ekitike has been a hit so far. Florian Wirtz, meanwhile, with four Premier League goals and two assists, was put into the "maybe" category, despite his recent form.

Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane agreed that it would take him a full season to adjust fully, before he could ignite next year. In recent games, Wirtz has really started to come to life.

Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates with Florian Wirtz after scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match against Newcastle United at Anfield on January 31 2026(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)

"A really good performance, I think it’s not easy to win here," the German said after he played well for Liverpool against Sunderland.

"We had to fight really hard to get chances and also then scored with a set-piece so that shows how difficult it can be here. But we are very happy that we got the three points.

"Of course, we also didn’t concede [in the first half] and that’s always also good, but in the end we have to score to win games.

"So, we had to say at half-time that we have to give more in the second half and I think until we scored we made good attacks and afterwards we had to defend the goal.

"But everybody defended all together and that’s what it’s about."

Liverpool.com says: Ekitike has been quieter in the last couple of games but he has 15 goals in all competitions and should break the 20 barrier by the end of the campaign.

For a player who is only 23, playing in England for the first time, and cost a substantial fee, bringing with it high expectations, that is a solid return — with plenty more to come from him.